Sarah S. James was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin circa 1862, the daughter of Ebenezer James, a pioneer lumberman, manufactuer, and merchant. She grew up in a household with five sisters and at least one brother at 98 High Street. Sarah graduated from the Oshkosh Normal School in 1882 and also graduated from the Teacher's College of Columbia University in New York City. By 1884 she was teaching in Oshkosh High School and would continue to until 1911 when she retired to devote her full attention to the suffrage movement. She helped organize and became the president of the Equal Suffrage League of Oshkosh. Her offices were located at Room "I" in the Cook's Block on the corner of Main and Algoma. She also held meetings in her home. Sarah was also the recording secretary for the Political Equality League of Wisconsin and served as an officer alongside with Rose Swart (Oshkosh Normal School) and Jessie Jack Hooper (wife of Oshkosh Attorney Ben Hooper). Sarah helped organize local events, speaking engagements, and letter campaigns. She went to the Republican National Convention in Chicago to picket in 1920 and Washington D.C. Sarah spent the rest of her life at her home on High street living with two other maiden sisters. In February 1939, she fell walking home from downtown and broke her hip. She died at mercy Hospital on February 14, 1939.

Classification

Archives

Collection

Sarah James

Dates of Accumulation

1911

Abstract

Type Constitution of the Equal Suffrage League of Oshkosh.

"CONSTITUTION

Article 1.

The name of the organization shall be "The Equal Suffrage League of Oshkosh".

Article 2.

The purpose of league shall be to express approval of the movement of women to attain Equal Suffrage in this country and to aid them in their efforts toward that end, by public appearance in behalf of the cause, by the circulation of literature, by the holding of meetings, and in such other ways as may seem from time to time desirable.

Article 3.

The officers of this league shall, be a President, five or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, and Treasurer.

Amendment to Article 3.

A commission of three shall be the presiding officers of this league. The three persons receiving the highest number of votes cast for commissioners shall be declared elected provided each person receive a majority of the votes cast.The other officers of the league shall be a corresponding secretary, a recording Secretary, and a treasurer, and an auditor.

Article 4.

Any person may become a member of this league by paying a minimum fee of (25) twenty-five cents.All members are eligible to office and entitled to vote on all questions.

Amendment to Article 4.

Members shall be required to pay annual of twenty-five cents.

Article 5.

This constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present, after due notice of such amendment has been appended to the call for a meeting.

Article 6.

By-laws may be adopted to meet the requirements by a majority vote of those present at any regular meeting of the league."

Category

8: Communication Artifact

Object ID

RG11.11

Object Name

Constitution

People

James, Sarah

Subjects

SuffrageSuffragistsOshkosh Equal Suffrage League

Title

Constitution of the Equal Suffrage League of Oshkosh

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